Łódź, Stoki

The first hoverfly is Eristalis tenax, female; the second one in the third photo is Eristalis tenax, male; the bee in the second photo is Apis mellifera. It is native to north-eastern and north-central North America, but is widely spread in Poland and strongly invasive! Bees feeding plant. Ornamental plant. Edible plant - young leaves and flowering stems - cooked. Herbal plant - roots are applied as a poultice to burns; dried for infusion used as antiseptic, the plant has similar medicinal uses to Solidago virgaurea. Usable plant - mustard, orange and brown dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.